She nods and leans her head against the pillow. “She has to make sure there’s still a heartbeat.” Her eyes meet mine, and I see the tears there. “I don’t know if I can—”
I squeeze her hand. “No. Don't go there yet. You give this onea fighting chance; don’t give up on that yet.”
She blinks and a tear falls, but she nods. “Okay.” Her words barely a whisper.
When Sryena comes back in, she’s all business. Kinsley squeezes my hand so tightly, I think she’s possibly going to break one or more of my fingers. Sryena looks at me before looking back at Kinsley. “Is she staying?”
Kinsley looks at me, desperation in her eyes. “I’m staying,” I tell the woman, even though I wish Farrah were the one in here right now. I don’t do emotion, and I certainly don’t know anything about pregnancies or babies. But I won’t leave Kinsley right now.
Sryena eyes me disapprovingly. She’s probably wondering where Kaldar is; that’s something I’m wondering too. “Where’s Kaldar?” I ask softly.
Kinsley closes her eyes a moment. “I sent him to get something I needed, so he wouldn’t be here for this.” She turns to me, tears in her eyes. “I didn’t want to make him be here for this if...”
I want to scold her for sending him away, but I don’t. Instead, I squeeze her hand. “Okay. Everything’s going to be fine, Kins.” I will it to be so. The woman puts a towel over Kinsley’s lower half, and Kinsley squeezes my fingers again. It’s silent in the room except for the movements from Sryena. I keep my eyes on Kinsley’s face and let her squeeze my fingers painfully tight. After what seems like an eternity, Sryena removes the towel and stands up. Kinsley and I both eye her, and my heart races in my chest.
“Baby is fine,” Sryena says.
Kinsley lets out something close to a wail, and I miss what the woman says next. I nod at the woman, and she gathers her things and leaves. I stay in my seat, unsure what to do, as Kinsley sobs. Suddenly, the door flies open, and Kaldar enters. He looks like he’s two seconds away from tearing into something. I quickly stand. “Kaldar,” I say, catching his attention. “It’s okay. These are happy tears.” His eyes finally meet mine. “The baby’s okay.” I watch as the tension leaves his body, and he strides over to the bed. He slips into the bed next to Kinsley, and I take that as my cue to leave. I slip out into the hallway, closing the door behind me. I take the few steps out into the living room, unsurprised to see Farrah and Rysden, Lox, and Jamik. I walk over to the only open space and lean against the wall next to the hulking presence of Rauk.
“Is she okay?” Farrah asks softly.
Chapter 41
I just nod. I can’t speak yet, not when emotion threatens to strangle me. I swallow against the lump in my throat. Relief pours through me that the baby is okay, but anger swiftly follows that relief. That was too close. This shouldn't be happening. Kinsley and her unborn baby shouldn't be at risk; there shouldn't be homes being burned to the ground by guivres. This was too much. I feel more than see Rauk turn towards me. “Are you okay?” His low words confuse me. It’s Kinsley that’s sobbing in the room behind me. But I don’t think I can talk past the emotion clogging my throat, so I just nod again. His intense eyes scan my face, missing nothing. To my horror, tears threaten to fall, shocking me. I blink fast. I don’t ever cry. I remind myself the baby’s okay; they didn’t lose the baby.
“Come on.” Rauk puts a pressure on my side, and I walk towards the door. I don’t know where we’re going, but if it gets me out of this house that feels like the walls are closing in, I’ll take it.
I feel the breeze on my face, but I don’t get to enjoy it beforethere’s a body in front of me. “What happened?” I look up into the unhappy face of Jorren.
“Move, Jorren,” I tell him in no uncertain terms.
“I don’t care that you’re her friend. If you hurt her—”
“I suggest you let her pass,” a voice says from right behind me.
Jorren looks at Rauk, and I can tell he knows who he is. He scoffs. “And I suppose you think you’re going to make me?”
Taren puts a hand on Jorren’s chest. “Back off.”
Taren looks at me. “Is she okay?”
I snap. “Why are you guys asking me? Whose job is it to guard your queen? Pretty sure that’s your job, and I’m pretty sure you guys shouldn’t be asking me if she’s okay. You should be out there finding the enemy that did this to her.” Jorren rises to his full height above me and steps forward, but I don’t step back. “Yeah. You guys failed her, and you failed Kaldar.”
“Hey,” Reika says, joining us, her permanent scowl in place. “Maybe get all the facts before you start throwing blame around.”
“Oh, I’m not throwing it around. I know exactly where the blame lies.” I point to them. “In her protection team.”
Reika raises an arm, and I’m ready for it. I’d like nothing more than to go at it with somebody right now. But before she can come at me, an arm snakes out from behind me and grabs a hold of her hand, stopping her. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Rauk says in voice that betrays exactly how he’s currently feeling. His movement puts his chest right against my back, pinning me in between him and Reika.
“Everybody just cool down,” Taren says.
Rauk doesn’t let go of Reika’s arm, even though I can tell she’s trying to get free. She gives him a cold smirk. “Are you going to hit me? A woman?”
“If you hurt her, yes. I have no problem hitting you.”
Rauk’s answer reverberates through me because I’m pushed against his chest. I push on his arm, and he lets Reika’s arm drop. “I’m not doing any more of this drama. Kinsley is fine. She was getting checked to make sure the baby was still alive.” I let that sink in and wait for the appropriate guilt to appear on Jorren’s and Taren’s faces. Reika, not so much; but that doesn’t surprise me. “Do better.” I stride away before any of them can say anything else. I don’t wait for Rauk but continue walking along the wooden walkway over the water. I hate being over the water like this; I’ll be happy when there’s solid ground beneath my feet again. I breathe a sigh of relief when I step onto the sand.
“Where’s the fire?” Rauk asks from behind me.
